Loads of Everton fans have been demanding to see Leighton Baines pen a new contract after Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that new terms have been offered to the veteran defender.
Everton have been hopeful that Baines will sign a new contract at Goodison Park since the end of last month, having offered the 35-year-old new terms ahead of his current £65,000-per-week deal expiring this summer.
It is believed that the Blues have offered Baines a one-year deal that would take him into his 13th season with the club, having been on Merseyside since a 2007 switch from boyhood side Wigan Athletic.
Over the years, Baines has amassed 419 outings for Everton across all competitions but has only been awarded minutes in eight fixtures this season – including seven Premier League games, all of which coming after Marco Silva’s dismissal.
Baines last featured for Everton in the Blues’ 3-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month, but will be in line for minutes on the final day should his future not be at Goodison Park.
Ancelotti has stated that he expects Baines will inform the club whether or not he will take up the offer of a 12-month contract before the final game of the Premier League season, and will definitely award the 35-year-old minutes against Bournemouth as a farewell appearance if he opts to say no.
“Not yet but I think he is going to give us an answer before Sunday,” the Italian said ahead of the Cherries clash, via quotes by the Liverpool Echo.
“I’m sure he will be part of this club also in the future. Playing or staying at the club. His knowledge and experience is important to help this club improve.
“Before the [Bournemouth] game I’d like to talk to him about this, as always Leighton is so professional and every decision I take he understands.
“If it is his last game I will give him minutes, I think he deserves it.”
Fans are certainly hopeful that Baines will take up the contract offer and extend his Toffees career by another year, having rallied on social media to a club tweet showing the left-back in training demanding to see the pen hitting the paper.
Here are some of the messages shared…
Sign the contract
— P (@PatrickShiels_3) July 24, 2020
We want Baines contract
— Sam Christopher (@SamC_1878) July 24, 2020
We want Baines contract
— J (@EFCJakeee) July 24, 2020
We want Baines contract
— Luke Stafford (@EvertonLuke_) July 24, 2020
Next post better be him signing that contract extension. 🤞🏻🤞🏻😭💙
— 🃏кคtเє ⚜️| вєlเєvє тнคt 🖤 (@KTSupreme) July 24, 2020
Sign the contract Leighton
— The Legend of Tom Davies (@Tomgoatdavies) July 24, 2020
Cutting it fine with Bainesy’s contract guys !
Let’s not do a Jags
— Yorkshire Toffees (@YToffees) July 24, 2020
Baines contract*
— Nigerian Toffee 🇳🇬 (@mannie_efc) July 24, 2020
We want Baines contract
— 🇮🇹 Tom (@CarIoMagnifico) July 24, 2020
We want Baines signing a new contract content 🤞🏻 pic.twitter.com/c37PsaX68E
— The Toffee Blues (@EvertonNewsFeed) July 24, 2020